The Asphalt Innovation Symposium, organised by the Universty of Antwerp was held this year online. Despite this fact 178 professionals attented to this Symposium. Professor Wim Van Den Bergh perfectly moderated the various sessions.
It was the Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works, Lydia Peeters, who opened the Symposium. The Minister focused on sustainiblity and innovation.
Four projects caught her attention: using more secondary raw materials in asphalt, new production methods at lower temperatures, using rejuvenators and the promising future of foamed bitumen technology. The last issue was presented by Margo Briessinck and An Scheers from AWV by referring to the test site in Assenede.
Jan Folens presented the new BVA-ABPE branding and strategy in a perfect way and announced that BVA-ABPE will launch a brand new website very soon.
In Flanders, important steps have recently been taken to make the construction process more effective, through BIM – Building Information Modeling/Management.
Is this also the case with infrastructure works?
According to Ir. Natasha Blommaert (Agency for Roads and Traffic) the Asphalt producers have to catch up.
This is certainly an issue to pay more attention to.
Drs. ir. Greet Leegwater (TNO) shared recent Dutch developments concerning rules to assess the environmental impact of asphalt. It is clear that not only prize but also environmental issues will be taken into account for tenders in the future.